An independent pro-Indy modeller from Scotland, in love with his country and its railways.

Month: January 2014

A couple of hours’ work tonight sees the timberwork effects taken a bit further and decals applied.
The two ex-LMS vehicles had to have their decals created from various sources but this went fairly painlessly.
We’re nearly there with this trio!

I’ve mentioned the new project that is hatching here at the moment already.
I don’t want to elaborate just yet as i want to illustrate the feature with some nice images I have found.
Meantime, some suitable vehicles have been taking form on the workbench in the shape of the LNER 20 ton Plate wagon, the LMS Diagram 1674 double bolster and the LMS Diagram 2069 Long Low, pretty much the equivalent of the LNER vehicle.
I’ve already commented on the building but now we move on to the painting and finishing stage.

On many Parkside Dundas kits you will find a moulded tiebar linking the axleguards and the Plate is no exception. However, the plastic is prone to distortion and breakage so it’s best to replace it. I do so with a fine brass L section strip; not prototypical and slightly overscale in this instance, but sometimes Form has to dance to Function’s tune and this is an acceptable compromise bearing in mind that when weathered in it won’t really be noticeable to most.
I’ve also started to work on the timber effect for the wagon deck. My technique for this involves hand brushed acrylic to a method pretty identical to that outlined in the Fifteen Minute Heroes section of Paul Marshall Potter’s Bawdsey/Albion Yard blog.
I recommend a look at that.
Essentially you can combine and blend shades (I use Lifecolor’s ‘Weathered Wood’ shades) in random combination. Here I have then applied some Mig Productions Dark Wash as a blending agent. More work will be done but you can see we are already on the way here.
No commercially available decals exist for the LMS vehicles so I will need to improvise from existing sources when it comes to numbering those.
Meanwhile the 782 has received primer now that running is satisfactory and an effort will now be made to tidy up any surface imperfections before detailing and painting take place.

These are the first of some new wagons I’m building with a new project in mind. I’m just waiting for a couple of photographic permissions before I do a dedicated post.
Suffice to say that it’s a subject I’ve always had a notion for and there was a good chance that I was going to tackle the theme one day.
Some of you know about this project already so keep it to yourself just now, ta! 😊
Back to the wagons; we have a Parkside LNER plate wagon and two Chivers Kits; an LMS Long Low and a bolster wagon of similar origin.
The latter are a very easy build, even accommodating the slight adjustment in positioning the brakes for EM.
Just the sort of vehicles for carrying finished steel products… 😉

With yesterday’s Burns’ Night commemmorations in mind, i thought I’d re-blog this wonderful and comprehensive tribute from Bella Caledonia.
A man whose writings may be even more relevant today as when he penned them.

Just a quick post to advise that I have now set up a dedicated blog covering my weathering and effects work, as opposed to the more general layout and build projects here.
See http://www.albaweathering.com
Thanks.

Just a quick heads-up to bring attention to latest developments with new build 77021.
The outer section of the smokebox door has been completed and a mock up of the locomotive’s ‘face’ has been arranged as shown above.

The group is also grateful to Matt Stoddon, restorer of EE Type 3, No 37175 for his provision of a set of BR Standard buffers which are of a type suitable for 77021.

In the near future, as finance permits, we are looking to produce fabricated frame stretchers as the next component of the engine.

For the latest in-depth information on the progress of the project, please visit the official website at http://www.77021.org.

Regular followers of my blog will know of the struggle involved in creating my model of 57375.
As one of the staples of the Scottish Railway scenes from the 1890s to the early 1960s, the lack of a modern kit for this class can be seen as a significant gap in the market in 4mm at least.
Following some discussions on the Modellers United forum, an experienced etcher and kit producer has tentatively put forward the idea of producing an etched kit for the Jumbo.
To be viable, it is anticipated that a run of 20-30 would be required with lost wax or white metal castings included.
I guess it’s a reversal of Field of Dreams whereby if you come, they will build it but if you would like to see a 21st Century etched kit of one of Scotlands’s great wee engines then please express your interest here in order that I can pass the numbers on.
I reckon we have about ten definites already but the more we have, the more likely this will go ahead!